Game-table



A. SMITH AND R. R. SHENK.

GAME TABLE.

I APPLICATION FILED SEPTMB. 1911. 1,349,587. Patented Aug. 17,1920. a SHEETSSHEET 1.

A. SMITH AND R. R. SHENK.

GAME TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 18. 1917.

1,349,587, Patentefi Aug. 17, 1920. i 2.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- A. SMITH AND R. R. SHENK.

GAME TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18. 1917.

1,349, 587. at nted Aug. 17, 1920.

3SHEETS-SHEET s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW SMITH AND ROBERT E. SHENK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GAME-TABLE,

specification of Letters Patent. Patented A11 1'7, 1920,

Application filed September 18. 1317. Serial No. 191,959.

To all whom it may concern games, and has particular reference to a novel game table or board arranged for playing a great variety oi games by theuse oil? movable men, disks or similar devices.

The object oiour invention is to provide a table or board with markings or designs arranged thereon for the playing of many di'l'lcreut games whichmake use of movable disks or such like devices; which boardshall have a top capable of being used either side up and provided on at least one side with poclmts or prisons of unique design and adapted to receive disks of suitable thickness when the same are driven into them.

A. further object of our invention is to provide a game table of the character described having legs, reinovably secured thereto, and adapted to beused either side up.

further object of our invention is to provide a game board or table which can be alternately used for the games of pool and billiards without change or adjijistinent.

A further object of our invention is to combine or arrange markings and other devices commonly used for dilierent games so that they in effect increase the utility of each other, such, for instance, as indoor clock golf, croquet and roque, the

gates orarclies of roque or croquet providing hazards tor the clock golf game; or the combination of a checker board with a. board for the Japanese game of go so thatthe same set of markings can be used alternately for either game.

A further object of our invention isto provide aasiniple and effective means for reversing the table top and adjusting the legs so that the table will stand substaiitially level and steady even on a floor which may llOt bt-l exactly level. i

Our invention consists in a game table having atop provided with an upstanding rim or margin and provided at intervals with pockets in the rim adapted to receive and yieldingly retain disks of suitable thickness.

Our invention also consists in a tableof the character described, having an upstanding marginal rim which is adapted, without change,- for use in the game oil. pool wherein men or disks are caught in pockets, and also in the game of billiards wherein the men or disks are deflected or returned by the rim.

Our invention also consists in the several features of construction and iii the combinations and arrangements oi? markings, de vices, constructions and features by means of which wcare enabled to attain the above described and other objects and all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended. claims.

()ur invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a game table constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig.- 2 is a similar top plan view but showing the reverse side of the table top or board Fig.3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similarsectional view illustrat ing the deflecting action of the rim at the points where the pockets are located;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of one corner of the table top illustrating the action of the retaining pocket; I

Fig. 6 is a lra mentar vertical sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view particularly disclosing the novel connection of the legs with the table top or board; and

Fig. 8 is a vert cal sectional view of the shooting device taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1. I

Our novel game board cons sts of a table :and retain it in flat condition.

tinuous margins.

- table.

The table top or board 1 consists of a relatively thin board proper 3, which is .mounted at its edges in a continuous frame fori-rlm 4 whlch PIOJGCtS above the surface of the table 3 at each side, as shown, thus 16.

providing a sunken play board on each of .the two surfaces 5 and 6 of the board or I table top.

v The rim or frame 4, as explained, provides 'a raised margin or wall 7 upon the side 5 of the board and a similar marginal wall or rim 8 upon the side 6 of the board. In the .marginal wall 7 we provide pockets or I pr1sons 9', one in each corner and s1m1lar pockets 10 in the middle of the side members of the frame 1, the several pockets being arranged similarly to the pockets in the ordinary pool table. These pockets are adapted to receive and retain thedisks 11 when the disks are shot into the pockets with sufficient force. j

In building our table top we preferably form the frame dwith an internal groove or gain 12 to receive the edges of the board 3 The ec ges of;-the board 3 thus enter into the frame 1 a short distance, and we provide the pockets 9 and. 10 by undercutting the frame 4 at the desired points, as shown, making the ceilings or upper walls 13 of the pockets slightly inclined downwardly and rearwardly, as

:shown, and so related in height to the disks ll th at the disks can enter the pockets, but, under ordinary conditions, will .be bound therein-by reason of the vertical narrowing of the" pockets, before the disks reach the bottom of the pockets. The portion of the frame 4; above the pockets is relatively thin, as shown,-- and somewhat yielding and per- .mits the tight wedging of the disks in the pockets when the disks are driven thereinto.

Along the upper edge of the margin 7 the same is continuous and straight, and hence the wall Tserves as a carom or deflecting wall for disks 14, see Fig. l, which are thicker than the depth of the pockets 9 and 10, and thus the board withoutchange is suitable for the-game of pool or any similar games which use pockets, and for billiards and. for. other similar games which use conlVe preferablyflare the ends of the pockets, as shown, :to permit the easy entrance and escape of the disks. .;'.-'We= preferto prov1de home l. spaces or areas immediately in front of the several pockets by means of curved markings 15 on the board thus adding to the possibilities in such games as pool and the like.

The disks 11 or 11 may be driven across the board by snapping them with the lingers as in the ordinary game of krokinole, or by means of cues as in the game of billiards, but we prefer to provide a propelling device of simple character by means of which the player can easily propel the disks with relatively great force and without inconvenience. lVe have illustrated one form of such propelling device 16, see Figs. 1 and b. This device preferably consists of a standard or base 17 adapted to stand in an upright position on the board and mounted thereon is a swingin arm or lever 18 pivoted on the base at 19. 'lhe lever 18 has a horizontal arm 21) at its upper end which projects back over the top of the base and a hanging arm 21 which extends downwardly and terminates near the lower end of the base. The lever 11-; is limited in its movement in one direction by the arm 20 and in the other direction by the arm 21, and we so weight the lever that normally the lower end is in against the base and the upper end in raised position. \Ve form the lower end 22 of the depending arm for contact with the edge of a disk or the like, and upon striking the upper end or arm 20 with the hand the lower end will be forced outwardly, thus propelling the disk which has been placed in contact therewith.

This propelling device is very simple, cheap and effective. We do not herein claim the novel features thereof, such forming the subject-matter of the co-pending application filed September 18, 1917, Serial Yo. 191,981.

In addition to the uses described of the surface 5 of the board, we provide thereon a checker board 23, having alternately colored squares for such purpose, and we bisect the checker board squares with lateral and transverse lines, as shown, forming the board with four times as many squares as the checker board which are similar and which are adapted for playing the wellknown Japanese game of go. This checker board is preferably arranged in the middle of the length of the board 3, thus leaving room at the ends for markings for various other games. F or instance, at 25 at each end we have shown a group of ten spots arranged to show where to set up the tenpins, which game can be played very nicely with the aid of the propelling device 16. Also at each end of the board we have provided a single circle 26 as a mark upon which to place the bottle in the game of bottle pool. Adjacent to the end bars ofthe frame we have arranged markings simulating stalls 27 with the proper arrangement of dots in the stalls for the games .of shulllc-board and chuck-a-luck. Between the checker Cir board and the ends of the game we have arranged flags 28, one duplicate set of six each at each end and forming a board or table upon which to play the well-known game of backgammon.

We prefer to mount the board 3 upon its own legs i, and in order to be able to easily and quickly reverse the board 3 so that either the surface 5 or 6 thereof may be used upon which to play the various games, we preferably connect the legs to the table by threaded or screwed connections. For this purpose we provide internally thread ed or screwed openings 28 in the side bars of the frame l adapted to receive the threaded upper ends 29 of the legs 2. The threaded ends and threaded holes are each straight and preferably the threaded ends of the legs screw easily into the threaded openings. To hold the legs tightly in place and yet permit the easy screwing of them into and out of the frame l, we provide a counter-bored portion 30 at each end of the threaded openings 28, and we provide an unthreaded portion 31 at the base of the threaded portion 29, of such a relative diameter that it fits tightly within the counter-bored portion 80. We provide the upper end of the leg with a shoulder 32 adapted to contact withthe adjacent face of the frame t when the leg is screwed in as far as it can go, but the construction above described will hold the leg tightly and rigidly in place even when the shoulder 32 does not contact with the bar 4- and consequently the board 3 can be readily leveled or the legs readily adjusted to cause the table to stand steady by adjusting the several legs vertically by turning them more or less as desired. or needed.

When it is desired to use the opposite side 6 of the board, the board having been set up for the use of the side 5, the legs are screwed out of their first positions and screwed into the opposite ends of the open tings 39 as indicated in Fig. 6.

Upon the opposite side of the board 3 we preferably arrange a number of games, using the middle of the board for games which require a square field and adding arieus features to the end portions to add fields for such games as croquet and roque which make use of elongated fields.

In the form shown, (see Fig. 2) we provide a field preferably marked by means of a series of lines 34 forming rectangles of different sizes, for the game krokinole, and we provide position marks 35 at the centers and meeting points of the lines 34 arranged in radial rows from the center 36 for the game of old mill.

Preferably in the center of the board and. arranged in a circle which is substantially tangent to the side lines of the center field, we arrange a series of 12 spots numbered from 1. to 12, as shown, and arranged for use in the game known as clock gol t. For this game we provide a hon e spot or hole 37, one at each end of the board and into which a disk must be shot from the numbered spots in the center in succession. We extend the side lines kid of the center iield toward each end and connect them to form inclosed areas 38 at each end to siinulate the ends of the field for the game of croquet and rogue, and to best simulate the field for the game of roque we cut oil the outer corners of the fields 38 by diagtmal lines 38, and we [ill in the several corners of the board with blocks, the inner edges 38 of which are parallel with the lines as. in these areas 38 w 1 arrange gates or arches all) consisting of pairs of pins ll driven into the board and suitably spaced and arranged to simulate the arches for the game o l. croquet and the gates for the game of rogue. We also provide one pin M at each end of the field for the end stakes.

In the center of the boa rd we provide four pins 4:3 arranged to simulate the cross arches used in such games. The pins of the several arches 01' gates serve as hazards or obstructions in the game of clock golf, making it necessary to use the margin of the board as an abutment or carom wall in driving the disks from the several mun bered spots tothe home hole. In order that the pins and gates or arches defined thereby may be plainly seen, we mark a star Ad in each gate, the star having preferably four equal arms, two of which terminate at the pins defining the gate.

It will be recognized that we have provided a board upon which may be played many different games, and in which the features, markings or devices of the several games are so associated or intermingled that many new advantages are provided; also that the table top can be readily and easily reversed so that the table can readily and quickly be arranged in a stable position with either face up, ready for use.

To add to the utility of the board We provide two sets of holes 4:5 in the side bars of the frame 4i and on the checker board side of the board for use in playing the game of cribbage. Each set of holes contains the usual 4: rows of 15 holes each and one extra. hole at each end.

As many modifications of our invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, we do not limit or confine our invention to the specific structures and arrangements herein shown and described.

We claim:

1. A game board for use with disks, a raised marginal rim on the board, the rim provided with pockets adapted to receive p the disks, one wall of each pocket being wedgmg yieldable for yieldingly engaging the disks driven into the pocket.

2. A game board for use with disk-like playing devices, a raised marginal rim or Wall on the board, the wall having inwardly tapered slot-like pockets for receiving the disks and wedgingly engaging same.

3. A game board for use with playing disks, a raised marginal rim on the board, pockets provided in the rim adapted to receive and yieldingly retain the disks which are driven along the surface of the board.

l. A toy combined billiard and pool table comprising a flat game board having a rigid marginal frame, wedging' pockets in the frame opening above the board adapted to receive and yieldingly retain relatively thin disks, the marginal frame being continuous above the pockets and adapted to deflect relatively thick disks and return them upon the board. V

5. A game board for use with playing disks, an upstanding marginal rim on the board, the rim provided with spaced openings opening toward the board, the upper wall thereof being inclined downwardly from the inner edge of the rim toward the bottom of the openings and of sucha height from the surface of the board relatively of the disks used that the disks, when shot into a pocket with the right amount of force,

6. A game board for use with playing disks, an upstanding marginal rim thereon, the rim provided with openings in its inner face to receive the disks driven along the surface of the board, the inner edges of the upper walls of the openings being flush with the inner face of said rim whereby the inner face of the rim is substantially continuous and adapted to deflect the disks driven against the rim which are too thick to enter said openings, the upper walls of the openings being inclined downwardly and outwardly from the board and adapted to wedgingly engage the disks which are thin enough to enter said openings.

7. A game board for use with playing F disks, an upstanding rim on the board, the rim provided with slot-like openings, parallel with the surface of the board, adapted to receive the disks, the upper wall. of said openings being yielding and the under surface thereof inclined downwardly to permit the disks driven into the pocket with the right amount of force to be \vedgingly retained therein.

8. A combination pool and billiard table comprising a fiat board bordered by a carom edge, said edge provided with slots for receiving disks driven across the board, the lower edges of said slots being llush with the upper surface of the board and the slots terminating below the upper edge of the carom edge.

9. A flat game board, an upstanding marginal edge thereon, said edge provided with a disk receiving opening, the board having a home area defined thereon in front of the opening by means of a line extending out from the margin and terminating at points adjacent to the ends of the opening.

10. A flat game board, an upstanding marginal edge thereon, said edge provided with av plurality of disk receiving slots, the board having a home area defined in front of each of said slots by means of marks on the board extending out from the margin and terminating at points :nljacent to the ends of said slots.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands, this 15th day of September, 1917, in the presence of one subscribing witness.

ANDREW SMITH. ROBERT ll. Sl'lENK. Witness:

E. F. lVILsoN. 

